Radiographic apparatus



J. R. KELLEY I RADIOGRAPHI-C APPARATUS 'Filed Aug. 22,1925

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A Sept. 27, 1927.

- 1,643,382 J. R. KELLEY RADIOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Aug; 22, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet ,2-

Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOI-IN ROBERT KELLY, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

RADIOGRAIPHIC AIPPARATUS.

Application filed August 22, 1925. Serial No. 51,852.

My invention relates to improvements in radiographic apparatus. One ot its objects is to provide improved means to support and shield X-ray tubes. Another object is to provide improved apparatus to support and give ready access to the X-ray'tube. Another object is to provide improved means to support and shield X-ray tubes, and to provide for readily inserting, removing, substituting` or replacing the tubes. Another object is to provide improved adjustable 'means to adjustably center, support, and shield X-ray tubes, even where respective tubes are relatively different in dimensions. My invention also comprises certain ydetails ot form and combination of components, all et which will be fully set forth in the description of the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan of my improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig'. 3 is a vertical section through theV erably of metal, having an opening` or window 16 through which the X-rays are designed to pass from an X-ray tube 17 through the subject to be radiographed and thence to a sensitive photographic plate, not shown. It is designed to place the patientV or subject to be radiographed upon a table, to support the sensitive plate withinl a plate hol-der slipped into a recess in the table beneath the patient, and to support the plate 15 and members carried thereby adjustably above the patient by means of an adjustable overhanging' arm or bracket to. which the plate 15 is detachably attached. X-ray tubes differ considerably in dimensions, one from another, and also in their qualities and adaptability to the different types of work in hand. They are also fragile and liable to injury. 1t trcquently happens that one tube requires to be removed and another substituted, which it is desirable to accomplish conveniently and quickly. It is also desirable to shield the operater, his assistants, and his sensitive plates, and other apparatus, and also the patient except at the locality to be radiographed from the influence of X- rays issuing from the X-ray tube 16 when energized.

These variousteatures oit adjustment supf pervious to Xerays is composed of twosections 2O and 21, which are separable along a substantially horizontal line. The lower section 2O is detachably clamped to the plate 15 by means of an outwardly extending annular flange 22, which is engaged by a series of clamping' members 23, held in place by bolts 24. The shape of the section 2O is that of the lower halt' of a hollow spherical body havinp; semi-tubular horizontal ends 25 andl 26 and an annular wall 27 extending downwardly to the flange 22 and providing an opening` 28 leading down trom theinterior of the spherical shield to the window 16 in the plate 15. The shield section 21'comprises the upper half of a hollow spherical body having a projection 29 and semi-tubular horizontal `ends 30 and 31 which` are counterparts to the sections 25 and 26 of the lower shield member 20. The semi-tubular ends 25, 26, 30 and 31 are each provided with a semifannular ,groove 32 which grooves are respectively engaged by counterpart ribs 34 carried by the upper embracing` members 35 and 36 and the lower embracing members 37 and 38. The members 35 and'37 are con-l nectedtosrether by a vhinge member 39 and are detachablv clamped together at their opposite edges by means of an eye-bolt 40 and a clamping nut 41. The eye-bolt 40 is connected by a pin 42 to the embracing member 37 and enters a slot 43 in the edge-of member By loosening the nut 41, the eyebolt 40 turns on the pin 42` and leaves the slot 43, to quickly Jfree the member 35 and allow member 35 to be thrown upwardly and `backwardly upon its hinge 39 out of eny,qagrement with shield section 21. The embracing members 36 and 38 are hinged to pjether by a hinge member 45, similar to the hinge member 39, and at their opposite edges. are detachably connected together by an eyebolt 46 and Clampingnut 47 similar to the eye-bolt 40 and clamping nut 41, and oper able as described for the -eye-bolt 40 and nut- 41 to allow the member 36 to be turned upwardly and baclrwardly upon its hinge 45. The members 37 and 38 are preferably clamped rigidlyto the plate 15 by means of bolts @and nuts 49, but may if desired be rigidly or ydetachably clamped to the lower shield member 20, instead of to the plate 15.

The X-ray tube 17 comprises an intermediate substantially spherical section with cylindrical projections or sections 5l and 52 at opposite sides thereof to the ends ofv which are attached electrical terminals 53 and 54. ln order to adjustably and detaclr ably support the X-ray tube vvithin and relative to the shield members 2O `and 2l, I provide projections 55 extending outwardly from, the lovver embracing members 37 and 38 which projections are perforated to receive the cylindrical or polygonal posts or shanks 56 held adjustably in place by means of set screws 57. At the upper ends' oi' the` l posts 56 are curved supporting shoes 58 each provided with a softlining 59 oit cork, woolelt, or similar material upon Which the cylindrical sections 5l and 52 of the X-ray tube rest, and thereby support the tube 17 out ot Contact with the lower. shield member 20, and enable the tube i7 to be adjusted concentrically with the openings in the shield through which the cylindrical tube sections 5l and 52 project.`

The embracing members 35 andt are each provided Wit-h a projection 60 similar to the projections 55 Which arebored to receive the cylindricalr or polygonal stems 6l, to the lovver ends of Which are attached curved shoes 62 each beingprovided with a soft lin ing ot cork, Wool-felt, or similar material 63. Thel stems 6l areadjustable in the projections GOpand are clamped rigidly to their adjusted `positions by set screws 64X The I shoes 62 and their lining members 63 engage the top o't'the cylindrical sections 51 and 52 oit the X-ray tubeto co-act With the shoes 58 in clamping the Xjray tube lightly but lrigidly in its positionvvithin andirelative tothe shield members 20 and 2l, and provide Yce . removed 'for adjusting the X-ray tubes to a position concentric With and out of contact with both shield members 2O and 2l. ThD tube isalso supported in such manner that expansion and contraction ot thetube may take .place` Without injury to the tube,` Also the upper section of the shield 2l including the embracing members 35 and 36 carrying with them the shoes 62, may be readily released and removed. thereby giving access to the tuberesting loosely upon the linings 59v of the shoes 58, and permittingthe tubes to be and replaced if desired. members 35 andA 36 both open from the iront and thus contribute to convenient access to the tubes. The spherical section of each tube is provided-With a projection 66 which serves to seal thetube after the tube has been exhausted.` The projection 29 in the 'wall et the shield member-2l `provided ,for

` assembling the tubes and shield, with the The.

projection 66 of the tube extending into one end or the other oli' the rec-ess ornled by the projection 29, depending upon Whether the tube is inserted with the projection 66 to the right hand or to the lett hand. The meeting edges? and 68 of the shield members 2() and '21 are` olf-set so as to 'facilitate the yassembly of the members 2() and 21 in alignment with each other, and also to avoid any possible leakage ot X-raysthrough the joint vbetween the `members 20 and 21. The recesses 32and vcounterpartribs 34 serve to hold the shield members 2O and 2l 1-n ahoninent endWlse, and to prevent relative isplacement ot either the shield members 2Ol ends 'of the X-ray tube and divided along i lines leading from one of said openings to the other to permit the shield to be separated into two sections to provide for introducing and removing the X-ray tubes, a port for the issuance of X-rays `from the interior of said shield, supporting members carried rigidly relativeuto one of said shieldv sec-` tions upon which the X-ray tube normally c rests near opposite ends of said tube, clamping members adjustable to engage and clamp said tube in position upon its supporting members and` serving also to clamp `said shield sections together.

2. Radiographic apparatus comprising a hollow X-ray tube shield having openings at opposite sides for the passage ot' opposite ends of the X-ray tub-e and dividedyalong lines leading from one of said openings to the other to permit the shield to be. separated into two `sections to provide for introducing and removing the X-ray tubes, a port for the issuance of X-rays from the interior of said shield, supporting members carried adjustablyr and rigidly relatively to one of said shield sections upon` which `the X-ray tube normally rests `near opposite ends of said tube, mainclamping members adjustable to engage and clamp said shield sections together, `and auxiliary clamping members carried adjustably and rigidly by said main clamping members to engage and clamp the X-ray tube uponits supporting members.l j

3. Radiographic apparatus comprising 3a hollow X-ray tube shield having openings at opposite sides yfor the passage of opposite,

ends ot the X-ray tube, and divided along lines leading 'from one of said openings to the other to permit the shield to be separated into an upper section and a lower' section to provide :tor introducing and removing the X-ray tubes, a port 'for the issuance of X- rays Yfrom the interior of said shield, supporting members carried rigidly relative to the lower shield section upon which opposite ends o1" the X-ray tube normally rest to support the X-ray tube within its shield, main clamping members adjustable to detachably clamp the upper shield section upon said lower shield section, and auxiliary clamping members carried by and movable with said main clampingmember to clamp said tube at opposite ends upon the tube supporting members at the same time that said shield sections are clamped together.

il. Radiographic apparatus comprising a hollow X-ray tube shield having openings at opposite sides for the passage oit opposite ends ot the X-ray tube, and divided along lines leading from one of said openings to the other to permit the shield to be separated into an upper section anda lower section to provide l'or introducing and removing the X-ray tubes, a port for the issuance of X- rays from the interior of said shield, supporting members adjustably mounted and carried rigidly relative to the lower shield section upon which opposite ends of the X- ray tube normally rest to support the X-ray tube substantially concentrically within its shield, main clamping members adjustable to detachabl'v clamp the upper shield section upon said lower shield section and auX- iliary clamping members adjustably mounted upon said main clamping members to engage and clamp the X-ray tube upon its supporting members.

5. Radiographic apparatus comprising a hollow X-ray ltube shield having openings at opposite sides for the passage of opposite ends of the X-ray tube, and divided along lines leading` -from one of said-openings to the other to permit the shield to be separated into an upper section and a lower section to provide Jfor introducing` and removing the X-ray tube, a port for the issuance of X-rays from the interior of said shield, resiliently i''aced supporting` members carried rigidly relative to the lower section of said shield to normally engage opposite ends of the X- rav tube to support the X-ray tube within said shield, main clamping members to detachably clamp the upper shield section in position upon the lower shield section, and

resiliently 'faced auxiliary clamping members carried by and movable withsaid main clamping members to clamp they X-ray tube from above in position upon said tube supporting members when said shield sections are clamped together.

6. Radiographic apparatus comprising a main tube and shield supporting member, a hollow X-ray tube shield having openings at opposite sides tor the passage of opposite ends of the X-,ray tube and divided along lines leading from one of said openings to the other to permit the shield to be separated into an upper section and a lower section to provide for introducing and removing the X-ray tubes, a port through the wall of said lower shield section and said main tube supporting member for the issuance of X-rays from said shield, means to clamp the lower shield4 section rigidly to said main tube support and clamping members at opposite sides o1" said shield adjacent to the side openings insaid shield pivotally attached relative to said main tube support and movable into and out of position to detachably clamp and lock said upper shield section to said lower shield section and to enable the upper shield section to be detached from the lower shield section.

T. Radiographic apparatus comprising a main tube supporting member, a hollow X- ray tube shield having openings at opposite f sides for thepassage of oppositev ends of the X-ray tube and divided along lines leading from one of said openings to the other to permit the shield to be separated into an upper section and a lower section to provide for introducing and removing the -Xray tubes` a port through the wall of said lower shield section and said main tube supporting member for the issuance ot X-rays from said shield, an annular liange on said lower shield section clamped to said main tube supporting member, clamping members having projections interengaging with corresponding depressions in said shield to detachably clamp the shield sections together and to en# able the upper shield section to be detached from the lower shield section to introduce and remove X-ray tubes.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, v

JOHN ROBERT KELLEY. 

